Car truck



Aug. 29, 1939. R. c. HOBSON CAR TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original FiledApril 2, 1935 lNvENToR: Roy CHoJsora Y Aug. 29, 1939. R. c. HOBSON I2,170,862

CAR TRUCK Original Filed April 2, 1935' 2 Sheets Sheet 2 IINIVENTORC Bog671105502 BY M ATTORNEY Patented Au 29, 1939 UNITED, STATES PATENTOFFICE OAR TRUCK Roy 0. Hobson, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor toNational Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio 15 Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No.14,213, filed April 2, 1935, now Patent No. 2,091,854, granted August31, 1937.

This invention relates to railway car trucks. One of its objects residesin the provision of a novel car truck wherein loads or forces from thebolster are transmitted to the side frames at points directly below theside frame columns, with marked reduction in bending moments andsecondarybendingstressesin thetension and compression members and theside frame columns. The invention further comprises new and improvedmeans for frictionally supplementing the resistance offered by thebolster supporting springs to downward movement of the bolster and fordamping oscillations of said springs. The invention also providesimproved features in conjunction with the type of car truck illustratedin my pending application Serial No. 716,948, filed March 23, 1934, nowPatent No. 2,091,853, granted August 31, 1937, wherein there isdisclosed a spring snubbing arrangement comprising rocker elementshaving horizontal arms underlying the bolster supporting springs andvertical-arms extending along opposite sides of the bolster and adaptedunder the pressure of said springs to generate friction at the sides ofthe bolster for assisting the springs in resisting downward travel ofthe bolster and damping oscillations of said springs.

The invention also comprises a novel side frame, especially adapted foruse with the rocker elements of the type shown in my application SerialNo. 716,948 above referred to, and which not only may be cast or moldedwith particular facility, but also provide ready access tothe rockersfrom outside the frame by way of openings at the outer sides of the sideframe columns. This side frame at the same time may, when desired, beemployed without rocker elements for supporting the bolster. l g

In addition, the invention provides means for enabling the bolster tomove freely laterally with respect to the side frame, in combinationwith rocker means for frictionally resisting vertical movements of thebolster.

Still another feature comprises provision for vertical movement of thebolster through predetermined extents, unopposed by the rocker damp--ening mechanism, and for bringing the latter into action when saidvertical movement exceeds a given amount; wherebythe bolster may ridefreely on, the springs until a predetermined amplitude of vibration isexceeded,at which time said opening.

the rocker means comes into action for preventing excessive vibrationsof the springs.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical section showing an embodimentof the invention wherein provision is made for free lateral movement ofthe bolster with respect to the side frame. I v

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating anotherembodiment of the in vention wherein means is provided for enabling thebolster to move vertically within given limits without encounteringopposition by the friction damping means, vertical movement of thebolster beyond said-limits being opposed by said friction damping means.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referring to' the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1a car truck'sideframe A comprising a compression member 2, inclined tension members 3,3, a lower horizontaltension member 4, and columns 5, 5, joining thecompression member 2 and tension member 4 and providing abolster-receiving opening or window therebetween. The bolster B extendsat one end into It will be understood that the car truck also includes asimilar side frame into which the opposite end of the bolster projects,

but a description of one side frame and its 00-,

operation with the bolster is sufficient for an understanding of myinvention. At its opposite ends the side frame A is provided withintegral journal boxes for the truck wheel axles in the well knownmanner.

In Figs. 1-3 I have shown an embodiment of my invention wherein meansare provided for enabling the bolster to move freely laterally withrespect to the side frame. In carrying out this form of the invention, Iplace around the bolster B a band 34 comprising top and bottom mem-.bers 35, 3B and side members 31, 38. The sides of the band are engagedby the rockers 39, 39, which may have flat engaging surfaces 39, 39'similar to those of the rockers shown in my aforesaid prior application.The upper ends of the bolster supporting springs bear against the bottommember 36 of the band 34, through the spring plate l8, said bottommember being of extended area as shown, to accommodate said springs. Theupper surface of said bottom member of the band is provided with pocketsor depressions 40 to receive rollers 4!, and the bottom of the bolsterhas similar pockets 42 for accommodating said rollers. It will be seenthat with this construction the vertical movements of the bolster areresisted, and undue oscillations of the springs H snubbed, by thefriction between the rockers 39, 39 and the side walls 31, 38 of theband 34; the bolster at the same time being free to move laterally ofthe side frame up to the point where its stop lugs 43, 43 engage theends of said side walls. As shown, each of said side walls is providedwith flanges 44, 45 at each end, between which flanges the associatedrocker 39 is received; the flanges 44 of the respective side wallsaforesaid further providing extended bearing area for engagement .bysaid bolster lugs.

The springs H in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are preferably mounted on a springplank 46, which may be suitably secured to or formed integral with aplate 41 having extensions 48, 48 depending therefrom into the spacebetween the side walls ofthe tension member 4, and on opposite sides ofthe transverse web .11 connecting said side walls. The bottom ofsaidplate 41 is engaged by the horizontal arms of the rockers 39, 39.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 4-6, I have provided for apreliminary vertical movement of the bolster, resisted only by thesprings, before the rockers commence their snubbing action. For thispurpose there is placed around the bolster a band 50, comprising top andbottom walls 52, and side walls 53, 54. The rockers 55, 55 have flatsurfaces 55', 55 at their upper ends for engaging said side walls 53,54.

.The bottom wall 52 of the band 50 has openings 56 through which extendthe projections 51 of a spring. cap 58 resting upon the springs i I."Recesses 59 are provided in the under side of the bolster B" forreceiving said spring cap projecindicated at 60; while clearance alsoexists at the. same time between the top of the bolster and the underside of the top wall 5!, as shown at 6|. It will thus be seen that thebolster may oscillate freely within the range of the clearances 60, 6|,Without bringing the friction system into action. When, however, eitherof these clearances is taken up, the band 5|] is moved with consequentgeneration of friction between the side Walls of said band and therockers 55. With this construction the friction system is out of actionand the bolster subjected simply to the free action of the springs underordinary operating conditions, but upon a predetermined extentofvertical movement of the bolster the friction system comes into action,preventing undesirable harmonic vibrations .of the' springs, and alsosupplementing the action of the latter for cushioning severe shocks.

To change wheels in the embodiment of Figs. 4-6, the bolster is firstjacked up a suihcient amount to bring its recesses 59 clear of theprojecticns 51, after which the side frame can be readily removed. Inthis form of the invention it is unnecessary to draw the rockers backinto the side frame columns as a preliminary to wheel change.

The side walls 53, 54 are shown each provided with end flanges 62, 63between which the upper end of the cooperating rocker is received. Thesprings Il may bear upon the cap 58 through spring plate l8 and at theirlower ends may rest on a plate 64 in the spring seat I0.

It will be observed that in the foregoing embodiments of my inventionthe bolster loads are applied to the side frame at points beneath theside frame columns. Specifically, as pointed out in my prior applicationaforesaid, the resultant of the forces applied by the bolster to eachrocker passes through the region adjacent a point at the intersection ofthe gravity axis of the corresponding column with the gravity axes ofthe associated inclined and horizontal tension members. The loadtransmission provided by my invention is thus in distinct contrast totheload transmis- -sion provided in conventional side frames wherein theresultant of the bolster weight passes through the central region of thehorizontal tension portion of the side frame with consequent productionof a decided beam action involving powerful secondary bending stresses,tending to distort said horizontal tension portion together with thecompression member, the inclined tension members, and the side framecolumns. This undesirable action is avoided by the application ofbolster forces provided by my invention, wherein practically no bendingmoment is applied by the bolster to any of the members 3, 4, and 5, orto the compression member 2. The reduction in bending stresses in theside frame members resulting 'from such application of the load enablesthe cross-sectional area of the tension and compression members, and theside frame columns, to be reduced with consequent saving in weight ofthe side frame.

It will be apparent that, if desired, a spring plank, such, for example,as that shown in Figs. 1-3, may be employed in the form of my inventionshown in Figs. 4-6 of the present application. It will be noted that inFigs. 4-6 the bolster ties the side frames together by the engagement ofthe spring cap projections 51 in the recesses 59 in the bolster, saidprojections also passing through the bottom member of the band 50, thesides of which receive the rockers 55.

Matter shown and described but not claimed herein is claimed in my priorPatents Nos. 2,091,954 and 2,091,953, hereinbefore referred to.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents the featuresshown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that variousmodifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, spring means beneath saidbolster for supporting the same, a unitary band surrounding said bolsterand adapted at times to move therewith, said band having portions spacedfrom said bolster -to permit a limited amount of relativemovement-therebetween including side portions adjacent the sides of thebolster, and a bottom portion joining, said side portions interposedbetween said bolster and spring means, and means on said side frame forsupporting said spring means and exerting pressure against said sideportions under the influence of said spring means.

2. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, spring means beneath saidbolster for supporting the same, a unitary band surrounding said bolsterand adapted at times to move therewith, vsaid band having portionsspaced from said bolster to permit a limited amount of'relative movementtherebetween including side portions adjacent the sides of the bolster,and a bottom portion joining said side portions interposed between saidbolster and spring means, and rocker members on said side frame eachhaving a horizontal arm extending beneath said spring means forsupporting the same and vertical arms exerting pressure against saidside portions under the influence of said spring means.

3. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, spring means beneath saidbolster for supporting the same, a unitary band surrounding said bolsterand adapted at times to move therewith, said band having portions spacedfrom said bolster to permit a limited amount of relative movementtherebetween including side portions means comprising portions of saidband for limiting relative movement between said bolster and band.

4. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, springs beneath said bolsterfor supporting the same, means interposed between said bolster and saidsprings for enabling the bolster to' move laterally with respect to theside frame, elements at the sides of the bolster, and means on said sideframe for supporting said springs and exerting pressure against saidelements under the influence of said springs.

5. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, springs beneath said bolsterfor supporting the same, means interposed between said bolster and saidsprings for enabling the bolster to move laterally with respect to theside frame, elements at the sides of said bolster and movable verticallytherewith, and means on said side frame for supporting said springs andexerting pressure against said elements under the influence of saidsprings.

6. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, springs beneath saidbolster, a band surrounding said bolster and supported by said springs,means including said band supporting said bolster on said springs forlateral movement with respect to the side frame, and rocker means onsaid side frame for supporting said springs and exerting pressureagainst the sides of said band under the influence of said springs.

7. In a car truck, a sideframe, a bolster, springs beneath said bolster,aband surrounding said bolster, and including a lower wall supportedpnsaid springs, anti-friction means interposed between said handand thebottom of said bolster, and rocker means on said side frame forsupporting said springs and exerting pressure against the.. sides ofsaid band under the influence of said springs. 8

8. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, springs beneath saidbolster, a member compris' ing top, bottom, and side walls surroundingsaid bolster, said bottom wall being mounted on said' springs and meansincluding said bottom wall supporting the bolster for lateral movementwith respect to the side frame, flanges projecting from opposite ends ofeach side wall of said member,

side walls between the flanges thereof.

9. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, springs beneath saidbolster, a member having top, bottom, and side walls and surroundingsaid bolster, said bottom wall being-mounted on said springs,anti-friction means interposedbetween said bottom wall and the bottom ofthe bolster for providing for lateral movement of the bolster withrespect to the side frame,-rocker elements on said side frame, saidrocker elements having horizontal arms underlying said springs andvertical arms engaging opposite side walls of said member, each of saidside walls having flanges extending on opposite sides of the verticalarm of the associated rocker element.

10. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, friction means inhorizontal overlapping relation with the sides of said bolster adaptedto be moved thereby after predetermined vertical movement thereof springmeans beneath said bolster for supporting the same, and rocker meanssupporting said spring means and engaging said friction means andbrought into action after said predetermined vertical movement of saidbolster for frictionally opposing further vertical movement thereof.

11. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, spring means beneath saidbolster for supporting the same, a pair of rocker elements supported bysaid side frame each having a horizontal arm underlying said springmeans and a vertical arm extending adjacent a side of the bolster, andmeans engaged by said vertical arms and movable with respect theretoupon a predetermined vertical movement of the bolster for generatingfriction in opposition to further vertical movement of said bolster.

12. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster,

friction means in horizontal overlapping relation with the sides of saidbolster adapted for a limited amount of vertical movement relativethereto, spring means beneath said bolster for supporting the same, androcker means supporting said spring means and brought into action aftersaid limited vertical movement of the bolster for generating frictionwith said friction means under the pressure of said spring means.

13. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, spring means beneath saidbolster for supporting the same, a member surrounding the bolster andincluding top, bottom, and side walls, means on said springs normallysupporting said bolster in spaced relation to said top and bottom walls,

, means engaging the side walls of said member for generating frictiontherewith under the pressure of said springs during movement of saidmember, said bolster being adapted upon a predetermined downwardmovement thereof to engage saidbottom wall of said member withconsequent movement thereof and generation of friction opposing furtherdownward movement of said bolster- 14. In a. car truck, a side frame, abolster, spring means beneath said bolster, a member surrounding saidbolster and having top, bottom, and side walls, a spring cap on saidspring means and having projections extending through openings in thebottom wall of said member into engagement with the bolster for normallysupporting the bolster in spaced relation to the top being adapted uponpredetermined downward movement to engage said bottom wall and draw saidmember downwardly, and means engaging opposite side walls of said memberand exerting pressure thereagainst under the influence of said springmeans for frictionally opposing vertical movement of said member.

15. In a car truck, a side frame, a bolster, spring means beneath saidbolster, a member surrounding said bolster and having top, bottom, andside walls, a spring cap on said spring means and having projectionsextending through openings in the bottom wall of said member intoengagement with the bolster'for normally supporting the bolster inspaced relation to the top and bottom walls of said member, said bolsterbeing adapted upon predetermined downward movement to engage said bottomwall and draw said member downwardly, and means engaging opposite sidewalls of said member and exerting pressure thereagainst under theinfluence of said spring means for frictionally opposing verticalmovement of said member, said means engaging opposite side walls of saidmember comprising rocker elements having horizontal arms underlying saidspring means and vertical arms extending into engagement with said sidewalls, each side wall having flanges extending from opposite endsthereof and overlapping opposite sides of the associated vertical rockerarm.

ROY C. HOBSON.

